Decking device for freight cars



Dec. 30,11930. A. coPoNY DECKING DEVICE FOR FREIGHT CARS Filed Feb. 24, 1930 INVENTOR fre Z 56,1707?,

ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 30, 193() uur-ranl srarus ALFRED COPONY, OF MOUNT CLEMENS,`MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR 'IO COPONY AUTO yLOA?" PATENT @FFESE ING COMPANY, OF DETROIT', MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN DECKING DEVICE FOR FREIGHT CAR-S Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,889.

This inventionrelates to automobile decking devices particularly adapted for halfdecking automobiles and the like in freight cars and the like. ljleretofore decking devices of this general character have been relatively difficult to assemble and disassemble and Were of such a character as to make it economically necessary to disassemble the decking devices With care and to return the same to the shipper.

In accordance with my present invention,

I have provided a decking device Which may be economically constructed, Which is distinguished by its simplicity; which may be assembled and disassembled With facility; and Which is of such a character as to make it economically expedient to return to the shipper only the saddle portion thereof. v rlhe above and other` objects, advantages and novel details of construction of my invention Will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein i Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a freight car showing the application of my improved decking devices;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional'vieiv taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of one of the decking devices ;v

Figure t is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of one of the decking devices, and e Figure 5 is a top plan View of that portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1l. Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like 'reference characters indicate like parts, it will be notedthat in Figure 1 thereis illustrated a fragment of a freight car or the like 10 in which it is proposed to half-deck automotive vehicles r. 11, substantially inthev manner illustrated.

For this purpose va pair of ldecking devices 12 are associated With'- one of the' axles of the vehicle, one at each end thereof.

As seenV more clearly in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive,each decking devicev comprises a pair of flat members 13 having their' upper ends le engaging one another in a crossed or intersecting relation. The lower ends of the frame members 13 are fastened to the floor of the freight car or the like, as for vstance, by toe-nailing the same thereto as indicated at 18. The reference character 19 indicates a saddle member Which is preferably, although not necessarily, made out of a flat metal strap. Each Vend of the saddle member is bent to provide a frame member embracingportion 20vvhich is adapted to embrace the frame member substantially kon opposite sides and the end thereof, as

most clearly illustrated in Figures Ll and 5. The extremities of the saddle member 19 are perforated to receive a rfastening member in the form of a lbolt orthe like 21, Which is passed through the superposed ends 14 of the frame members and through the, said apertures in the saddle member. Thus, the saddle member is removably attached to the framemembers andthe'frame members are detachably f secured together by the same Single fastening member V21.'

It will be noted that the saddle strap 19 extends over the upper ends of the frame members so that When the axle4 or hub 22 of the automobile .is engaged in the saddle portion 23 of the saddle strap, the Weight is takenk principally by the ends of the frame members 13. If the saddle strap is formed of vfiat stock as illustrated herein, the broad side ythereof may be presented tothe axle of hub by halftwisting the two legs of the saddle strap as indicated at 2e. y

It is also preferable, although not essential, that the frame members 13 be connected at a point spaced from the upper ends thereof by means of a iieXible tension member herein shown in the form of a wire 25.

F rom the foregoing construction it will be readily apparent that the trame members 13 may be quickly assembled and disassembled and that the saddle member may be readily removed when the structure is disassembled. Thus, the saddle members may be preserved and returned to the shipper while the remainder of the structure can be scrapped.

The present form of construction is distinguished by its simplicity, cheapness and the ease with which it may be constructed and knocked down. However, various changes in many oi the non-essential details of construction may suggest themselves to those skilled in this art and to this end res4 ervation is made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

IVhat I claim as my invention is:

l. In a decking device for automobiles or the like in freight cars, a pair of downwardly diverging frame members having their upper ends intersecting one another, a saddle strap having its ends engaging respectively the said ends of said frame members, and a fastening element extending through the intersecting ends of said frame members and the ends of said saddle strap.

2. In a decking device for automobiles, a

air of downwardly diverging frame members having their upper ends engaging one another, a saddle strap having its end portions respectively embracing the ends of said frame members and a single fastening element extending through the engaging portions of said frame members and through said saddle strap for maintaining said parts in assembled relation.

3. In a decking device for automobiles or the like in freight cars, a pair of downwardly diverging frame members having their upper ends overlapping one another, a saddle strap having its endsshaped to extend respectively over the ends of said frame members and to engage the frame members on opposite sides adjacent the ends thereof, the ends ci' said saddle strap overlapping, and a fastening element extending through the overlapping portions of said frame members and saddle strap for the purpose set forth.

4. In a decking device for automobiles or the like in freight cars, a pair of downwardly diverging frame members having their upper ends overlapping one another, a saddle strap having its ends shaped to extend respectively over the ends of said frame members and to engage the frame members on opposite sides adjacent the ends thereof, the ends of said saddle strap overlapping, a fastening -element extending through the overlapping portions of said frame members and said saddle strap, said saddle strap having a portion in- `pair of engaging frame members, a saddle strap having its ends engaging said frame members and having an intermediate hub receiving saddle portion supported in a sus-- pended position by said frame members, and a single fastening element for securing the ends of said saddle strap to said frame members.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ALFRED COPONY. 

